releve Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, see http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/nh_plotform_instructions.pdf
Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated?
no
Stem Observation Area
400
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
34
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
85
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
10
%
Nonvascular Cover
1
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
The lower slopes and bottom of the cove formed by Vaught Branch at the north foot of Glade Mountain support a fairly typical, second-growth acidic cove forest with a variety of canopy trees and dense shrub layer of Rhododendron maximum. The mapped geologic substrate of this site, Shady dolomite, is either incorrect or completely covered by colluvium and debris from upslope acidic sandstone. This area must have been heavily logged decades ago, perhaps by narrow-gauge railroads. Microtopographic disturbances and old road (rail?) beds are evident in many places in the cove bottom. The regenerated stand contains quite a few oaks, along with more mesophytic trees (e.g., tulip-poplar, red maple, cucumber magnolia, sweet birch). Hemlock appears to be largely confined the understory. The plot was placed in an area with breaks in the Rhododendron cover that foster high woody diversity and allow several mesophytic herbs to grow well.
